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Teen pregnancy rates level off in Canada, study shows

A study by the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada has found teen pregnancy rates are levelling off after a long period of decline.

Even with increases in teen pregnancy in parts of Canada, the country still has a much lower rate than its closest neighbour, the United States. In 2008 Canada’s rate was 30.5, while in the U.S. it was 58.0.
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“Beginning in the mid-1970s, we’ve seen a persistent trend for teen pregnancy rates in Canada to decline,” said Alexander McKay, research co-ordinator for the council.

“What is interesting about this latest check-in is that for the most recent period we looked at, from 2006 to 2010, that long-term downward trend appears to have come to a halt. In fact, over that period, the teen pregnancy rate ticked up very slightly,” McKay added.

The study, which was published Tuesday in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, shows the rate of pregnancy among women 15 to 19 across the country has been relatively stable in recent years, at 27.9 (pregnancies per 100,000 women) in 2006, 30.6 (per 100,000) in 2007, 30.5 8 in 2008, 29.9 in 2009 and 28.2 in 2010.

That showed a levelling off, despite a spike of more than 15 per cent in teen pregnancies in four provinces — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Manitoba — over that period.

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McKay pointed out that teen pregnancy rates can also be seen as an “important socio-economic indicator.”

“What it really boils down to is, in many respects, that teenage girls who feel optimistic about their career and educational opportunities tend to be less likely to become pregnant, versus girls who are feeling discouraged about their economic future,” McKay said.

“That’s a key factor to pay attention to, particularly when you see that teen pregnancy rates seem to be levelling out in Canada and increasing in some parts of the country,” he added.

Even with increases in teen pregnancy in parts of Canada, the country still has a much lower rate than its closest neighbour, the United States. In 2008 Canada’s rate was 30.5, while in the U.S. it was 58.0.

“That’s a huge difference,” McKay said.

Canada’s teen pregnancy rate is markedly lower than the U.S. because of a range of factors, he said, including universal health care, access to contraception and sex education and the lower rate of poverty among young people.

McKay also pointed to broad changes in Canada since the mid-1970s which have increased gender equality in society.

“We’ve seen a tremendous transformation in Canadian society (since the 1970s) related to gender equality over that time period. That has led to greater empowerment among young women. There’s no doubt that has played a role in the long-term decline of teen pregnancy rates,” he added.

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